NASCAR
Kyle Busch’s Amazing 2018 Season in Review So Far
2015 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has had a season to remember so far in 2018. With just over half of the season in the books, Busch is on par to potentially set career highs in wins, top 10s, and in laps led. With his current position as 1 of the ‘Big 3’ drivers of 2018, it will certainly be entertaining to watch Kyle contend for another championship.
Busch’s Season in Review So Far
So far this year, Busch has earned 6 wins, 18 top 10s, and 3 poles. This year he has run 5,722 laps and led 1,067 of them. He has an average finish of 7.2. These stats are better than most driver’s entire championship seasons, and we are just past halfway in 2018.
Busch’s first win this season came at Texas Motor Speedway back in April. He went on the next week’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch would also win the race after Bristol at Richmond Raceway, getting 3 wins in a row. This marked the 2nd time in his career where Busch won 3-straight races.
In May at the Coca-Cola 600, Busch would put on a dominating performance. The 18 car led 377 of the 400 laps in the marathon race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This marked Busch’s 1st career win at Charlotte, making him the only driver to win on every active racetrack.
Last Month’s Excitement in the Windy City
In the closing 3 laps at Chicagoland Speedway in July, the race came down to Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. Larson gained on Busch’s lead because Busch was slowed by lapped traffic. Larson had a strong run into turns 1 and 2 on the final lap. The 42 tapped the left rear of the 18, knocking him into the outside wall, and letting Larson get by Busch. But the 2015 series Champ wasn’t done yet. Busch got back to the bumper of the no. 42 car, and in turn 3 Busch sent Larson sliding sideways with a hard shot to the rear bumper. Busch won the exciting race, and Larson still received the second place finish in the end.
After the race, Larson said that he didn’t blame Busch, he would have done the same thing in that situation. He understood that he was the first to get into Busch, so he opened the door for Busch to rebound.
A Great Day Gone Bad In The Glen
On Sunday, Kyle Busch started P2 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen. Busch was dominating the race early on, as he arguably had the strongest car. Chase Elliott got the lead from Busch at one point before Stage 2 was over. But Busch gained the lead back on the restart to start the final stage. And then, he had problems, the 18 pit crew didn’t get much fuel in Kyle Busch’s car, resulting in a second pit stop under caution for more gas, losing him the lead. As a result, Busch had to restart 31st on lap 59. He recovered nicely though, coming back through the field to get a 3rd place finish.
In conclusion, Kyle Busch is looking to have a career season in 2018. More than secured into the Playoffs with 6 wins, Busch is considered by many to be a championship favorite. Only time will tell if he can win the Regular Season Championship, and the Series Championship in November.
